Alameda County Auditor Candidate Withdraws From Race After Felony Charges
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- Alameda County auditor-controller candidate Kathleen Knox, who faces six felony counts for allegedly lying about where she lives, has withdrawn from the race.
Knox, 49, said in an email to her supporters that, "The distractions of current events have become overwhelming and my focus now needs to be entirely on my family, my business and my private life."
Knox's name will still appear on the June 3 ballot because it's too late to remove it, Alameda County Registrar of Voters officials said.
Knox, who owns and operates the Rose Gate assisted living home in San Leandro, was running against Steve Manning, the county's chief deputy auditor, for the job of succeeding Patrick O'Connell, who was first elected in 1985 but announced in March that he wouldn't seek re-election.
Knox, who said on her campaign website that the auditor-controller's office needs reform, was charged earlier this month with one count of registration of an ineligible voter, two counts of perjury by declaration and three counts of fraudulent voting.
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When Knox filed her candidacy papers in March she listed her address as 1345 Clark St. in San Leandro but prosecutors allege that she actually lives in Danville in Contra Costa County.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges against her at a hearing on May 6.
In her email, Knox thanked her supporters and family members and said "campaigning and running for auditor-controller have been an amazing experience."
Knox said, "I continue to believe in strong and honest government, this includes the electoral process for which I am so grateful to have been a part of."
She said, "As the first woman to run for this position and the first person to challenge this position in almost 30 years, I only hope that I am not the last."
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